NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Augustana was predicted to win the 2018-19 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men's basketball title according to the results of the conference's annual preseason coaches' poll announced Wednesday.
The Vikings (25-6, 12-4) won the poll with 63 points and one first place vote following a fourth-straight CCIW title last season. It was the program's 17th title in school history and ninth under head coach Grey Giovanine. Augustana also won its sixth CCIW Tournament title in program history and advanced to last year's NCAA regional final for the fourth-straight season.
Illinois Wesleyan (19-8, 12-4) was second with 55 points and one first place vote as the Titans also claimed a CCIW regular season title last season. It was the CCIW-leading 30th title in program history and third under head coach Ron Rose. Additionally, Illinois Wesleyan advanced to the NCAA postseason for the fourth time in the last six years.
Both Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan were ranked third and 19th, respectively, in the
D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 announced earlier this month.
Wheaton (17-9, 10-6) was third in the poll with 50 points and one first place vote after a fourth-place finish in the CCIW standings last season. The Thunder advanced to the conference tournament last February for the first time since 2014.
North Central (19-9, 11-5) was fourth with 44 points following a third place finish last season. The Cardinals advanced to the CCIW Tournament for the fourth-straight season in 2017-18.
Elmhurst (13-12, 6-10) was fifth with 34 points, while Carthage (13-12, 8-8) and Millikin (11-14, 4-12) tied for sixth with 25 points apiece.
Carroll (12-13, 8-8) and North Park (5-20, 1-15) rounded out the poll with 20 and eight points, respectively.
Voting is done by the CCIW's head men's basketball coaches. Each coach votes for the eight other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (eight points for first, seven for second, etc.). Coaches do not vote for their own teams.
2018 CCIW Preseason Men's Basketball Poll
| Rank |
Institution |
Points (1st Pl. Votes) |
| 1 |
Augustana |
63 (7) |
| 2 |
Illinois Wesleyan |
55 (1) |
| 3 |
Wheaton |
50 (1) |
| 4 |
North Central |
44 |
| 5 |
Elmhurst |
34 |
| T-6 |
Carthage |
25 |
| T-6 |
Millikin |
25 |
| 8 |
Carroll |
20 |
| 9 |
North Park |
8 |
2017-18 CCIW Men's Basketball Standings
| Institution |
CCIW |
Overall |
| Augustana |
12-4 |
25-6 |
| Illinois Wesleyan |
12-4 |
19-8 |
| North Central |
11-5 |
19-9 |
| Wheaton |
10-6 |
17-9 |
| Carthage |
8-8 |
13-12 |
| Carroll |
8-8 |
12-13 |
| Elmhurst |
6-10 |
13-12 |
| Millikin |
4-12 |
11-14 |
| North Park |
1-15 |
5-20 |
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL). During the 2017-18 academic year, the CCIW honored over 2,100 academic all-conference recipients, 15 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 28 CoSIDA Academic All-District recipients, and over 100 all-Americans.